A prisoner accused in a robbery case in Barisal has died, allegedly from police torture while in remand.
The dead body of Kalam Howladar, 42, was received by his wife, Rashida Begum, on Tuesday afternoon from the Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital morgue after post-mortem.
Kalam was from Kamalapur village under Khanzapur union of Gournadi upazila.
Rashida said their neighbour, Golam Sarwar Tipu, who had a longstanding feud over property with Kalam, had filed a false case of robbery.
“Tipu lodged a false case with Gournadi police station accusing Kalam on June 19 by bribing law enforcers,” she said.
Police arrested Kalam from his residence that night. He was jailed after an appearance in court the next day.
Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Swapan Kumar, investigation officer of the case, appealed before the court to interrogate Kalam for five days and the court sanctioned a 3-day remand from June 26.
After the remand Kalam was sent to Gournadi Upazila Health Complex under police custody.
Rashida alleged that Kalam was severely injured by police torture at Gournadi police station.
He was returned to Barisal Jail on June 28. Then he was admitted to the Barisal Jail hospital and as his condition worsened he was sent to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital on July 8.
Hospital sources said Kalam died there within half an hour of admission.
Gournadi police station in-charge Abul Kalam and ASI Swapan Kumar, investigation officer of the case, denied any torture on Kalam Howladar after arrest and during remand.
Police officials claimed Kalam was an asthma patient and was given treatment at Gournadi Upazila Health Complex and Barisal jail hospital.
He returned to jail after attending the hearing of the case at court on Monday in a normal condition and was rushed to hospital after he suddenly felt sick in jail at night and died there from an asthma attack.
A shadow of grief covered Kalam’s village after his dead body reached there Tuesday afternoon.